Ontario Hunter
AH legend
Impala is almost a freebie. If you ask, just about every place will let you shoot some extra impala as management culls. Same with springbuck. Warthog are cheap enough but isn't there still a hangup getting those in US because they are swine? Baboon are typically bait and shoot. I have no interest in doing anything but spot and stalk.
Black wildebeest are an interesting trophy and they can be challenging to hunt. Typically a wide open terrain critter. I found sable very disappointing stalk. Very high price tag too. Kudu are moderately expensive but not out of reach. Usually they can be had for just under $2K (consider a Montana elk goes for $1,700 nonresident so not bad). Kudu are, next to buffalo, my favorite animal to hunt. Very spooky and they live in challenging terrain. They are also essentially free roaming as fences don't hold them. PH never knows for sure what's going to turn up on any given property. Red hartbeest are fun to hunt. Wary and often in rugged country. Usually the price tag for them is not too bad. They make a very interesting skull mount (shoulder mount not so much). Red lechwe are beautiful but very expensive. Zebra can be affordable. I've just never been interested in shooting one. Blue wildebeest are fairly cheap and usually not a difficult stalk. Get the skull done and backskin if the color is right. Springbuck are very cheap usually. Skulls are small but pretty and their backskin is borderline spectacular. They can be challenging if herded up. Like black wildebeest, they prefer open plains. Getting within 200 yards is not easy. They are very flighty. Impala should give you a good hunt. Often as not they are in thick stuff. Blesbuck are quite numerous and affordable. I didn't find them to be terribly challenging to hunt. Shooting them was usually something to do or provide meat for property owner. Gemsbuck will often provide a good hunt. Although definitely not free roaming, you never know where they will show up. They are a desert animal so not bound to waterholes and rivers. Price is typically about the same as kudu. Tops for trophy, euro or shoulder mount. And excellent eating! Eland will be way out of your price range. Nyala and Barbary sheep are also very pricey. Waterbuck are about the same price as kudu or a bit more. They hang out in the same terrain but not as spooky. I would spend the money on kudu or gemsbuck instead. When you get there, have your lodge owner keep his ear to the ground. August will be towards the end of hunting and property owners will be looking to adjust herd sizes before ruts start. Less competition later in the season too. Some bargains are bound to show up. When I was there I was offered deals out of the blue on sable and nyala I hadn't budgeted for that were simply impossible to turn down.
Black wildebeest are an interesting trophy and they can be challenging to hunt. Typically a wide open terrain critter. I found sable very disappointing stalk. Very high price tag too. Kudu are moderately expensive but not out of reach. Usually they can be had for just under $2K (consider a Montana elk goes for $1,700 nonresident so not bad). Kudu are, next to buffalo, my favorite animal to hunt. Very spooky and they live in challenging terrain. They are also essentially free roaming as fences don't hold them. PH never knows for sure what's going to turn up on any given property. Red hartbeest are fun to hunt. Wary and often in rugged country. Usually the price tag for them is not too bad. They make a very interesting skull mount (shoulder mount not so much). Red lechwe are beautiful but very expensive. Zebra can be affordable. I've just never been interested in shooting one. Blue wildebeest are fairly cheap and usually not a difficult stalk. Get the skull done and backskin if the color is right. Springbuck are very cheap usually. Skulls are small but pretty and their backskin is borderline spectacular. They can be challenging if herded up. Like black wildebeest, they prefer open plains. Getting within 200 yards is not easy. They are very flighty. Impala should give you a good hunt. Often as not they are in thick stuff. Blesbuck are quite numerous and affordable. I didn't find them to be terribly challenging to hunt. Shooting them was usually something to do or provide meat for property owner. Gemsbuck will often provide a good hunt. Although definitely not free roaming, you never know where they will show up. They are a desert animal so not bound to waterholes and rivers. Price is typically about the same as kudu. Tops for trophy, euro or shoulder mount. And excellent eating! Eland will be way out of your price range. Nyala and Barbary sheep are also very pricey. Waterbuck are about the same price as kudu or a bit more. They hang out in the same terrain but not as spooky. I would spend the money on kudu or gemsbuck instead. When you get there, have your lodge owner keep his ear to the ground. August will be towards the end of hunting and property owners will be looking to adjust herd sizes before ruts start. Less competition later in the season too. Some bargains are bound to show up. When I was there I was offered deals out of the blue on sable and nyala I hadn't budgeted for that were simply impossible to turn down.
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If in the dark about what to choose, I would not turn down an opportunity at any older, even beat up, broken horned PG animal. Stick within budget if necessary but IMO, it's better to go without a grocery list.
